Priest&#39;s collar



March 3, 1959 s. A. .SNINCAK I v2,875,446 PRIEST'S COLLAR Filed March 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Stephen A. .Sninca/r INVENTOR.

March 3, 1959 s; A. SNINCAK PRIESTS COLLAR Filed March 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6

INVENTOR.

United States Patent This invention generally relates to an improved collar and more particularly relates to an improved detachable collar of that type which is worn by clergymen in connection with bosom or shirt fronts.

In this type of collar the shirt fronts are disposed on the inside of the collar in present day practice. This arrangement provides a space or gap between the neck of the wearer and the collar since the neckband portion of the shirt front is normally relatively thick. This space or gap between the neck of the wearer and the collar forms a very loose fitting collar and one which looks unkempt. Since the shirt front in the presently available collar construction is adjacent to the skin of the neck, irritation and discomfort to the skin is caused because of perspiration and movement of the neck. Therefore, the shirt front becomes easily soiled and these shirt fronts are extremely difiicult to launder..

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved collar construction of multiple plies with the shirt front disposed between the lower edges of adjacent plies and wherein the upper and lower edges of the collar are provided with rolled edges or folded edges thereby eliminating the sharp edges of the collar and especially the sharp edges which occur at the back along the line of juncture when the presently available collar is joined.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a collar which is attached to the shirt front by improved snap fastener means rather than the collar buttons which protrude through the collars and will engage the surface of the neck of the wearer. Such collar buttons sometimes oxidize when perspiration comes into contact thereto which irritates and discolors the skin.

Yet another object of the present invention is .to provide a collar having a snap fastener means at the rear thereof together with novel joint means for providing a relatively thin joint wherein no sharp edges are disposed in contact with the skin of the neck of the wearer.

Other objects of'the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of assembly, adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collar of the present invention assembled on a shirt wherein the collar is completely visible from the exterior with the neckband of the shirt concealed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the collar construction of the present invention illustrating the joint at the rear of the collar;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 2,875,446 Patented Mar. 3, 1959 illustrating the relationships of the elements of the collar wherein it is in assembled position;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upona plane passing along section line 4--4 of Figure 1 illustrating the manner in which the collar is attached to the neckband of the shirt front;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of collar construction wherein the neckband of the bosom or shirt front is disposed exteriorly of the collar and is generally black rather than white which is the color of the collar;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of Figure 5 illustrating the joint construction and arrangement;

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 7-7 of Figure 5 illustrating themanner of attaching the neckband of the shirt front to the exterior of the collar;

Figure 8 is a detailed elevational view illustrating the ends of the collar prior to their assembly in encircling relation to the neck of the wearer; and,

Figure 9 is a detailed side elevational view illustrating the relationship of the free ends of the collar when they are assembled.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the collar of the present invention which includes an elongated member of unitary construction having an inner portion and an outer portion 14 joined together along the upper edge thereof in a rolled edge 16 which generally forms a longitudinal fold line between the inner and outer portions 12 and 14. The inner portion 12 is provided with a reversely bent lower edge 18 forming a lower rolled edge 20 and the reversely bent lower edge portion 18 terminates above the lower edge of the outer portion 14 of the collar 10 and the entire construction is made of any suitable material such as plastic or the like which will be sufliciently stiff for the purposes intended and will retain its shape.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the collar 10 is provided with free ends 22 and 24 with the one free end 22 having the reversely bent portion omitted for a considerable 24 of the collar 10. Disposed on the outer surface of the' inner portion 12 adjacent the free end 22 is a male portion of a snap fastener while a female portion 34 is provided on the outer portion 14. When the free ends 24 and 22 are interconnected, the inner portion 12 of the free end 22 is disposed against the inner surface of the inner portion 12 of the free end 24 and the aperture 32 is positioned in overlying relation to the male portion of the snap fastener and the female portion 34 of the snap fastener is then snapped into position thereby retaining the collar 10 in encircling relation to the neck of the wearer. In this condition, the free end 22 of the collar 10 abuts the terminal edge 28 of the upper rolled edge 16 and the free edge 24 of the reversely bent portion 18 abuts the terminal edge 26 adjacent the free edge 22 thereby forming a substantially continuous telescopically engaged collar joint with only the rounded free edge 24lof the inner portion 12 disposed in contact movement of the neck occurs.

. 3 periphery of the collar 10 is provided with a rolled upper and lower edge with the rolled upper edge engaging the neck and eliminating considerable of the discomfort caused by the usual sharp edges of a still collar.

A shirt front or bosom as is provided with a reinforced upstanding ne'ckband 33 which is provided with a snap fastener element for engagement with a snap fastener element 42 disposed on the outer surface of the reversely bent portion 18 of the collar 19. This permits the collar 10 to be disposed against the skin of the wearer thereby eliminating any space between the collar l9 and the neckand also provides a rolled edge for the collar 10 and also disposes the entire area of the outer portion 14 for providing a continuous white collar.

Referring now specifically to Figures 5-7, it will be seen that an identical construction in the collar is illushated and the same reference numerals are employed in conjunction therewith. In this particular instance, a different type of shirt front or bosom 35 is employed and which is constructed of some type of material which is generally black. The shirt front or bosom 3h is provided with an upstanding reinforced neckband 33 which is provided with snap fastener elements 43' for engagement wtih snap fastener elements 42' which are attached to the outer surface of the outer portion 14 of the 'shirt collar 1%. in this particular instance, it is noted that the outer portion 14 extends completely to and terminates at the lower rolled edge 24) wherein the neckband 3% will be disposed eXteriorly of the collar 10' but the collar Ill" will still engage the neck of the wearer in closely spaced relation and present rolled upper and lower edges 15' and 20" for engagement by the neck during twisting or nodding of the head thereby reducing irritation to the neck. Also, the snap fastener arrangement is so constructed that none of the fastening elements are disposed interiorly of the collar and the collar 1% or It) prevents a continuously smooth surface except for the free edge 24 and 2.4, respectively, which substan'tially reduces the irritation to a minimum.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further e74- planation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inventions as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A detachable collar for use by clergymcn and attachrnent to a shirt having an upstanding neckband, said collar comprising an elongated member having free ovcrlapping ends, said elongated member having inner and outer portions joined at their upper edges and forming a rolled'upper edge for the collar, said inner portion having an outwardly extending re'versely bent lower edge forming a lower rolled edge for the collar, said outer portion of the collar terminating in a lower edge overlapping the free edge of the reversely bent lower edge of the inner portion of the collar, the free ends of the outer portion of said collar adapted to receive fastening means for securing the collar in encircling relation to the neck of the wearer, and means on said collar for detachable engagement with the shirt neckband, one free end of the collar having a length of the reversely bent lower edge of the inner portion omitted, the other free end of the collar having a length of the rolled upper edge omitted whereby the inner portion of said one free end overlies the inner surface of the inner portion of said other free end with the outer portion of the one free end underlying the outer portion of the other free end of the collar thereby forming a substantially flat telescopic joint.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer portion of the collar is provided with snap fastener elements adjacent the lower edge thereof for engagement with matching snap fastener elements on the inner surface of the neckband of the shirt whereby the neclrband of the shirt will overlie the outer portion of the collar.

3, The combination of claim 1 wherein the reversely bent lower edge of the inner portion ofthe collar is provided with a snap fastener element for engagement with a matching snap fastener element on the inner surface of the necltband of the shirt whereby the outer portion of the collar will overlie the n eclrband.

' 4. A detachable collar for use by clergymen and at.- tachrnent to a shirt having an upstanding neckband, said collar comprising an elongated member having free overlapping ends, said elongated member havinginner and outer portions joined at their upper edges and forming a rolled upper edge for the collar, said inner portion having an outwardly extending reversely bent lower edge forming a lower rolled edge for the collar, said outer portion ofthe collar terminating in a lower edge over lapping the free edge of the reversely bent lower edge of the inner portion of the collar, the free ends of the o-utr portion of said collar adapted to receive fastening means for securing the collar in encircling relation to the ncclc of the wearer, and means on said collar for detachable engagement with the shirt neckband, one free end of the collar having a length of the reversely bent lower edge of the inner portion omitted, the other free end of the collar having a length of the rolled upper edge omitted whereby the inner portion of said one free end overlies the inner surface of the inner portion of said other free end with the outer portion of the one free end underlying the outer portion of the other free end of the collarthereby forming a substantially fiat telescopic joint, said inner portion of said one free end having a fastening element attached to the outer surface thereof, the outer portion of the other free end having an apert'ure for positioning over said fastener, and a matching fastener element on the outer portion of said one free end whereby the fastener elements may be engaged for retaining thefr'ee ends in overlapping engagement, the telescoping inner portions of the free ends of the collar preventing contactbetween the fastening means and the:

neck of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hauer Oct. 25, 1949 

